Berlin 'attack' as it happened: At least nine killed and 50 injured as lorry ploughs into Christmas market
German police have told Berliners to stay at home
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A lorry has driven through a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin, killing several people and leaving more than 50 injured.
Latest updates
- Crash 'being investigated as an act of terrorism'
- Police tell Berliners to stay at home
- Suspected driver of lorry arrested
- Nine confirmed dead and more than 50 injured
- Chancellor Merkel being briefed by interior minister and Berlin mayor
- Facebook initiates Safety Check feature for Berliners
- Video shows destruction caused by lorry
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Video of the aftermath showed people helping the injured on the ground.
Police said on Twitter that the truck rammed into the market outside the capital's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
Bild newspaper posted a picture of a large Scania truck with its windshield smashed out on the sidewalk alongside the market.
Eyewitnesses on social media reported hearing a big bang as the lorry entered the square.
Video showed destroyed hoardings and stalls.
Witnesses reported that the lorry entered the market "at some speed - perhaps as high as 40mph" and knocked down stalls before eventually coming to a standstill.
"I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos...many injured people," Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN. "It was really traumatic."
Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way.
"The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice," Mr Reichelt said.
The co-driver of the truck was killed during the crash, the police spokesman told N24.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being briefed by the interior minister and Berlin mayor on the situation, a government spokesman has announced.
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